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Mouth and Throat

The process of digestion begins even before you put food in the mouth - it begins when the salivary glands are stimulated by the smell or even the thought of certain foods, or when we feel hungry.

The mouth's role in digestion

The production of saliva is the first step in digestion and prepares the body for a meal.

When food is put in the mouth, the tongue moves it around and the saliva produced coats and lubricates the food for easier chewing and swallowing.

Saliva also contains an enzyme called amylase that helps to chemically break down certain carbohydrates in the meal. Teeth help to mechanically (physically) break down food into smaller pieces by tearing and shredding it. Chewing slowly and well is important to make sure that the pieces swallowed are as small as possible to aid further digestion.

The movement of the jaw and tongue help to swallow the food. As you swallow - a flap automatically covers the entrance of the windpipe (to prevent choking). The food is then pushed down into the oesophagus.